Legitimate Rape?

No matter what side of the abortion issue one stands on, there are a few things that appear to be givens. Rape is a horrible crime against women. To find out that one is pregnant following being raped is a horrible and gut-wrenching experience, I’m sure. No one really wants to have to make a decision about whether or not to continue an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy – especially if there was rape or abuse involved. That is why the argument that people *want* abortions floor me. It seems like it would be such an emotionally trying decision to have to make.

Enter Representative Todd Akin. He’s a republican from Missouri. Recently, he made the following statement:

“It seems to be, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, it’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down.”

I don’t know about you, but the whole concept of legitimate and illegitimate rape is insulting to me as a woman. First of all, I don’t know of any instance of this hateful crime that could be remotely described as legitimate. Even within a marriage, rape can (and does for some unfortunate individuals) exist. This is a horrible statement from that perspective. Second, I don’t know of bodies just shutting down pregnancies – and in that case, what does that say about those of us who have had miscarriages? Many of us have tried for children but lost them during the early months of the pregnancy. That does not mean that “legitimate rape” occurred. Rather, it’s just a sad fact of nature.

What were your reactions to this statement? Why would the man say such an uninformed and offensive thing? Post your thoughts in the comments section.

Related articles

• Sen. Candidate Todd Akin Makes Controversial Statement About Rape
• Todd Akin Has Made it So Hard for Republicans to Talk Crazy About Rape
• Akin: Pregnancy rare after “legitimate rape”
• New anti-Akin ads feature rape survivors
• Todd Akin Not the Only One Who Thinks Rape Can’t Lead to Pregnancy